State Fisheries Commission Denies Consideration of Request for Declaratory Ruling

Omega Protein, a menhaden processing company in Reedville, Va., filed the request May 31, challenging the validity of a proclamation prohibiting the use of purse seines deployed from a mother ship for the harvest of menhaden in state waters. The commission voted for this management measure at its May meeting, and N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries Director Louis Daniel implemented the regulation by proclamation.

Omega Protein has the option to seek judicial review from the courts.

A purse seine is a type of net that is used to encircle a school of fish then trap the fish when it is closed with a line passing through rings, like a drawstring.